Ignition for internal-combustion engines.



c. L. TERRY. IGNITION FOB. INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE S.

. APPLICATION FILED MABA. 1910.

Patented May 7, 1912.

1,025,844. V F79. "if-" a iaaazil-jzrfj T awuo wtop G. L. TERRY.

IGNITION FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES. APPLIOATION FILED MABA, 1910.

1,025,844. Patented May 7, 1912.

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awuwioz CLAUDE L. TERRY, OF ELYRIA, OHIO.

IGNITION FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 7, 1912.

Application filed March 4, 1910. Serial No. 547,339.

for multiple cylinder engines, although it is not limited thereto and the invention relates more particularly to an ignition system of that type in which current is derlved from separate sources and supplied to the spark plugs by a maln circuit under normal conditions or by an auxihary circuit when the main circuit fails or when starting the engine.

The invention has for one of its objects to improve and simplify ignition systems of this character so as to be thoroughly reliable and eflicient in use, of comparatively simple and inexpensive construction and so designed that the change from one circuit to the other can be effected automatically.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a novel circuit make and break device for connecting spark plugs into or out of circuit with the auxiliary source of current, said device being responsive to the current in the main circuit.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simple and novel circuit interrupting device or automatic cut-out which responds to a continuous flow of current through a grounded spark plug to thereby cut the spark plug out of circuit and permit the engine to operate with the other cylinder or cylinders.

With these objects in view and others, as will appear as the description proceeds, the invention comprises the various novel features of construction and arrangement of parts which will be more fully described hereinafter and set forth with particularity in the claims appended hereto In the accompanying drawings which illustrate one embodiment of the invention, Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of the ignition system. Fig. 2 is a detail View of the auxiliary make and break device. Fig. 3 is a detail view of one of the automatic devices for cutting out a grounded spark plug.

Similar reference characters are employed to designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

P designates a simple slate or other insulating panel which is adapted to be supported at any convenient place in the engine room and at the bottom of the panel are arranged main and auxiliary switches A and B of the knife blade type which are connected respectively with the main circult supply wire in and theauxiliary circuit supply wire w. The wire w may be connected with an ordinary lighting circuit or with a generator G connected with the engine with which the ignition system is used or with another engine where several are used, one side of the generator being connected with the ground 9. The secondary current is derived from a storage battery 6 to one pole of which the wire w is connected while the other pole is connected to the ground at g.

In the present instance the ignition system is intended to be used with a four-cylinder engine or one having four spark plugs S of the make and break type and one of the electrodes of each plug is connected by a separate wire 11 for receiving current from either source above mentioned while the other electrode is connected to the ground at 9 Arranged on the panel adjacent the middle thereof is an auxiliary circuit make and break device D which consists of five mercury cups designated by 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 respectively that are mounted on a support 12 attached by a bracket 13 to the panel. Cooperating with the mercury cups is a bar 14 that has contact points 15 that dip into the mercuryof the cups when the device D is closed and hence current will pass from the battery through the auxiliary switch B,

wire 16 that includes a spark coil 17 on the back of the panel, through the mercury in the middle cup 5 where the current divides through the bar 14 to the mercury inthe two sets of cups at opposite sides of the cup 5. The cups 1 and 2 are connected respectively with main cut-out cups 1 and 2 while the cups 3 and 4 are connected respectively with main cut-out cups 3 and 1* and the said main cut-out cups are respectively connected by wires 11 with the spark plugs S S S and S Corresponding main and auxiliary cups are connected together by a wire 19 which is connected to a metal plate 20 that sup ports a bell crank lever 21 which lever operates a contact arm 22 that normally dips into the main mercury cup,the adjustment of the lever being controlled by an adjustable stop 23 on the plate 20. Thus when the auxiliary current is used to ignite the charges, the current will flow from the battery Z) through the wire w, switch B, wire 16, spark coil 17, (behind the panel) mercury cup 5, contact bar 14 and thence through and when its blade is in the dotted line pothat spark plug that has its electrodes for the time being in contact, and assuming that it is the spark plug S the current will flow through the cup 1, wire 19 leading from such cup, bell crank lever 21, contact arm 22, mercury cup 1, wire 11, electrodes 12 of spark plug S and by the ground connections g and g to the battery.

After the engine has started and the dynamo or magneto has attained normal speed for generating the main current, the device D will be automatically opened to cut out the auxiliary circuit and for this purpose a solenoid 24 is mounted on the panel at, a point above the bar 14 to which the core of the solenoid is connected by the rod 25, the parts being so arranged that the device D will close and remain closed by gravity when the electromagnet 24 is deenergized. This electromagnet is included in a branch wire 26 leading from the main Wire 27 connected with the switch A and this branch wire which'is grounded at 9 includes a knife switch C and also a resistance coil 28 at the back of the panel. The main wire 27 divides at 29 into separate branches 30 and 31 which connect respectively with two of the spark plugs and between the point 29 and the branch is arranged a spark coil 32 located behind the panel. In each branch 30 and 31 is a pilot lamp L ,for enabling the engineer to determine at a glance which pair of cylinders are operating and shunted around each lamp is a resistance 33 behind the panel. The wire 30 is provided with branches 34 and 35 that connect with the cut-out cups 1 and 2 and each branch includes a solenoid 36 that automatically opensthe mercury cup when the spark plug connected with the latter becomes grounded. The wire 31 is also provided with branches 38 and 39 that include solenoids 40 for the same purpose as the solenoids 36, each solenoid being connected with a mercury cup through the bell crank lever 21 and contact arm 22. The solenoids do not respond to the momentary current that flows through them when the spark plugs are operating normally, but should any spark plug become grounded the current flowing through the solenoid, connected in a circuit with such spark plug, would become continuous, and hence operate on its core to kick back the bell crank lever and throw the contact arm 22 out of the mercury. A grounded circuit but the remaining cylinders of the engine can continue to operate. A signal hell or equivalent device may be used in connection with each bell crank lever to close a circuit to warn the engineer when any spark plug is cut out and as this is a well known expedient it has not been shown in the present instance.

The switch C is of the double throw type sition, the current for maintaining the solenoid 24 energized, flows direct to ground at 9 When it is desired to connect the circuit with a meter, the switch C will have its blade in the full line position and current for the solenoid then passes through the wire 26, switch C, and wire 42'leading to a grounded meter (not shown).

From the foregoing taken in connection with the accompanying drawings the advantages of the construction and of the method of operation will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention appertains and while I have described the principle of operation of the invention together with the apparatus which I now consider to be the best embodiment thereof I desire to have it understood that the apparatus shown is merely illustrative and that such changes may be made as desired as are within the scope of the claims.

I claim 1. In an ignition system, the combination of a plurality, of spark plugs, a source of current, a mercury cup connected with the source of current, a mercury cup connected with each spark plug, a movable contact element for closing the circuit from the firstmentioned cup through the cups connected with the spark plugs, and means for automatically actuating the contact element to open and close the circuits.

2. In an ignition system, the combination of a plurality of spark plugs, a source of current, a mercury cup connected with the source of current, a mercury cup connected with each spark plug, a movable contact element for closing the circuit from the firstmentioned cup through the cups connected with the spark plugs, another source of cur rent, an electromagnetically operated means responsive to current from the second source for actuating the said contact element, and means for connecting the spark plugs with the main source, said last-mentioned means including a device responsive to continuous current passing through a grounded spark plug for cutting the latter out of circuit.

3. In an lgmtion system, the combination of a spark plug, auxlliary and main sources of current, two make and break devices for connecting the auxiliary source with the spark plug, means responsive to the main current for opening the first of said devices,

a cut-out device between the first-mentioned device and spark plug, said last-mentioned device including a bell crank lever, a mercury cup, a movable contact normally in circuit with the cup, and a solenoid responsive to continuous current passing through the plug for actuating the lever to remove the movable contact from the cup.

4. In an ignition system, the combination of separate sources of main and auxiliary current, said sources each having one side grounded, a plurality of sparkvplugs each having a grounded electrode, a circuit making and breaking device c0nnected with the auxiliary source, a spark coil between the device and auxiliary source, means for connecting the said device with each ungrounded electrode and including an automatic cutout device, means for connect-ing the main source with the cut-out device, means for connecting the main source with the spark plugs through the automatic cut-out devices, indicating means between the main source and the automatic cut-out devices, and a.

grounded conductor connected with a main source and including means for actuating the said make and br ak device, each cutout device being responsive to continuous current flowing through the spark plug with which it is connected in circuit for cutting such plug out of circuit when grounded.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CLAUDE L. TERRY.

Witnesses K CHAS. M. ACKERMAN, R. B. CARY. 

